Walk-a-cycle

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for use particularly by persons whose bodies must be supported as they move themselves from place to place, so that all their weight is not on their feet; the vehicle consisting of a cycle having front and rear wheels that support a frame, a seat on the frame so a person can sit on it while his feet walk on the ground, the front wheel being able to be steered in a desired direction and the rear wheel being able to be braked by a brake lever.

United States Patent [1 1 l [111 3,847,409

Shaffer Nov. 12, 1974 WALK-A-CYCLE 636.793 9/1936 Germany 280/8702 R '7 [76] Inventor; Merle L. Shaffer, RFD No. 1 762.506 4 1934 France 280/870. R

Turin, Iowa 51059 Primary E.ran1inerM. Henson Wood. Jr. [22] 1973 Assistant ExaminerMichael Mar 21 Appl. No.: 392,795

' 571 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 280/8702 R, 280/281 [51] Int. Cl B60p l/00 A vehicle for use particularly by persons whose bodies [58] Field of Search 280/8701, 87.02 R, 281, must be supported as they move themselves from 280/8705; 272/70, 70.3, 73; 297/5 place to place, so that all their weight is not on their feet; the vehicle consisting of a cycle having front and rear wheels that support a frame. a seat on the frame so aperson can sit on it while his feet walk on the ground, the front wheel being able to be steered in a [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 167 925 ll O 87. 213321927 /l960 lg l' i ght 220/873; l: S E 3 g g l the Wheel bemg able to FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS e y e r 144,074 6/1920 Great Britain. 280/8702 R 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures [I l /0N a;

I :1 /Z v i: i f4 WALK-A- CYCLE This invention relates generally to vehicles for transporting persons.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a cycle type vehicle for supporting a portion of a persons weight while he is walking on the ground.

Another object accordingly is to provide a walk-acycle that is especially suitable for use by persons whose legs are crippled from various causes or others who may have broken hips due to falls; the device allowing these persons to move about more easily and over greater distances with less effort than if they employed crutches, and wherein the physical exercise of walking would be beneficial to the muscles as well as the circulation.

Yet another object is to provide a walk-a-cycle that could be made in adult and child sizes and which would be usable by persons in good physical condition, so that it would be used as an amusement ride or for sport.

Yet another object is to provide a walk-a-cycle that takes only little room so that it can be transported in a car or taken in public conveyances or public building elevators, restaurants, etc.

Other objects are to provide a walk-a-cycle which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use, and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the riding seat, shown enlarged.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a walk-a-cycle according to the present invention, wherein there is a cycle frame 11 made of welded metal tubing which at its rear is supported on a large rear wheel 12, and which at its front is supported on a front wheel 13. The small front wheel is set on an inclined camber, as shown, so that it is selfsteering most of the time just by a person balancing his weight either toward right or left. If otherwise wanted, a fork 14 of the front wheel can be steered by a steering arm 15 so that the front wheel can be made to travel in any desired direction.

The frame 11 supports a vertically adjustable seat 16 for a rider to sit upon, so that the device can be used by taller or shorter riders. The seat may be made more forwardly tilted, if so desired. The seat should have a raised front and back ends 17 as the cycle would be pushed along by body force thereagainst. The seat is form-fitting so to prevent discomfort in long period use.

A brake lever 18 can be manually pivoted to urge pressure against a brake drum 19 in order to quickly haltthe vehicle.

The cycle is made with as thin a profile as possible for ease of walking and there should be no projections on it that would catch the clothing or be hit by the legs during walking. The wheels are preferably fitted with semi-solid tires for a smooth and quiet ride. The device can be made in three sizes for younger or older children as well as a size for adults.

In operative use, a rider simply rests his weight on the seat while walking his feet on the ground.

I claim:

1. In a walk-a-cycle, the combination of a frame supported upon a front and rear wheel and means whereby a rider can support his weight thereupon while walking with 'his feet upon a ground, said means comprising a vertically adjustable seat mounted upon said frame so to accommodate all sizes of said riders, said front wheel being steerable, and said walk-a-cycle being able to be braked so to stop, said steerable front wheel being supported at a lower end of a fork which at its upper end is integral with a steering shaft journalled in a front end of said frame, an upper end of said shaft having a normally rearward steering arm, and said fork being normally rearwardly downwardly inclined in camber toward said rear wheel. 

1. In a walk-a-cycle, the combination of a frame supported upon a front and rear wheel and means whereby a rider can support his weight thereupon while walking with his feet upon a ground, said means comprising a vertically adjustable seat mounted upon said frame so to accommodate all sizes of said riders, said front wheel being steerable, and said walk-a-cycle being able to be braked so to stop, said steerable front wheel being supported at a lower end of a fork which at its upper end is integral with a steering shaft journalled in a front end of said frame, an upper end of said shaft having a normally rearward steering arm, and said fork being normally rearwardly downwardly inclined in camber toward said rear wheel. 